With a new year comes new opportunities and for many, a new job search. The first step to a successful job search is a well-crafted CV. Your CV is the first impression an employer has of you, so it’s important to make it stand out. A good CV should highlight your skills, experience, and achievements in a concise manner, but how do you go about making your CV remarkable?
Here are some tips to help you craft a CV that will make you stand out from other applicants:
Keep it concise
A good CV should fit on one side of A4 paper, with margins, so keep your paragraphs short and use bullet points, headers, and tables to break up the text. Make sure to focus on the most relevant information.
Use action verbs
Choose words like “achieved” and “designed” instead of passive verbs like “developed” or “helped”. This helps to make your achievements sound more impactful.
Highlight personal achievements
If you have personal achievements, consider including them at the end of your CV as a list or on an extra page. This allows you to explain your skills and achievements in more detail in your application form.
Use your cover letter to your advantage
If you don’t have any experience, it may be better not to include a CV at all. Use your cover letter as an opportunity to explain why you’re suited to the role and how your skills will benefit the employer. Consider doing some volunteer work to gain experience and show what you’ve been doing with your time.
Be honest and accurate
It’s important to be honest and accurate in your CV, especially if you have a gap in employment. If you’re changing careers, make sure to explain why this is relevant to the position you’re applying for.
With these tips, you’re on your way to crafting a remarkable CV. Remember, a good CV is the first step to a job interview, so take the time to make it stand out. Best of luck in your job hunt!